KARACHI: Fresh increase in gas rates exposed budget: MMA
KARACHI, July 4: The fresh increase in Sui gas rate and CNG prices coming into effect right in the beginning of the new fiscal has exposed the so-called ‘people-friendly’ budget, Dr Mumtaz Ali Memon, a central leader of the MMA and Sindh chief of Jamaat-i-Islami.
He was addressing a meeting at the Quba Auditorium here on Tuesday. He said that the hike in fuel prices was contrary to the claims by rulers that they had presented a historic and people-friendly budget.
Referring to the rise in the prices of sugar, wheat flour, pluses, milk and other essential items, he regretted that the rulers were still insisting that “all is well”. He questioned the utility of swelling foreign exchange reserves while the common man was continuing to struggle for two square meals in vain.
Dr Memon said that time had come for a massive movement against the ruling clique. He said that the joint opposition’s decision to launch the movement against the dictatorship was in accordance with the aspirations of masses. He said that all component parties of the MMA were bound to follow the decisions taken by the MMA Supreme Council.
He hoped that the July 31 public rally in Hyderabad would prove a milestone in the joint movement.
WATER SHORTAGE: Expressing its concern over the acute shortage of drinking water prevailing in Karachi and of irrigation water across the interior of Sindh, the provincial leadership of MMA asked the government to pay attention to the adequate supply of water to all citizens, especially tail-end growers, of Sindh.
President of MMA, Sindh chapter, MNA Asadullah Bhutto, made this demand during his meeting with a delegation of growers which called on him at the Quba Auditorium on Tuesday.
The delegation informed him that the interior areas, especially the districts of Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmor and Shahdadkot, were facing an acute shortage of irrigation water at the moment. They said that the worst sufferers were tail-end growers, and alleged that irrigation officials were providing water only to influential landowners who would grease their palms.
The delegation pointed out that water shortage was delaying sowing of paddy, and apprehended that the situation could have an adverse effect on the country’s economy.
Asadullah Bhutto lamented the ‘criminal silence’ kept by the Sindh governor and chief minister over the situation, as well as over other issues, including the NFC Award.
He alleged that telemetry system had been made non-functional deliberately to deprive the provinces of their rightful share in water.
The government’s inaction showed its mala fide intentions, he added.—PPI
